ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that his party wants to see the present government complete its five-year term in the larger interest of Pakistan and democracy and called upon “all forces” to let the country be run under a democratic system.

Speaking to reporters after attending the flag-hoisting ceremony to mark the beginning of the celebrations on the 50th founding day of the party at Zardari House here on Thursday, the PPP chairman said he could have made a demand that the whole government should go home after the Faizabad sit-in episode, but he did not do so as he did not want to achieve “short-term political gains” and for him the country and democracy were more important than the PPP.

He termed the recent incidents and happenings related to the Faizabad sit-in “unfortunate, disappointing and demoralising,” particularly for the young generation. He said the entire young generation was frustrated to see “the writ of the state eroding, to see abject surrender of the state and to see the freedom of press strangled”.

“We are dejected, upset and frustrated with our political class, the parties in the government and the opposition, the media, Rangers and the entire society,” he went on saying.

“I want to give a message to all forces. Please, enough is enough. Please let the country move on, let democracy flourish. We are tired now. We have already offered huge sacrifices. How many sacrifices do you need more? But we are ready for it (giving more sacrifices). Please live up to our expectations,” the PPP chairman said without elaborating.

When his comments were sought on the army’s role in brokering an agreement between the government and the protesters, the PPP chairman said that he was disappointed to see “the conduct of all those involved in the situation”.

“No one has come out clean from the situation,” he added.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari urged the government to present all the facts about the Faizabad sit-in before a parliamentary committee or a judicial commission.

“The government needs to get its house in order. It should present all the facts before a parliamentary committee. It can also choose a judicial committee or a joint committee. People want clarity,” he said.

In response to a question about a possible delay in the elections due to the failure of the Senate to pass the delimitation bill, he said that he wanted to see holding of the elections on time. He said the PPP wanted to see a second smooth transition from one civilian government to other.

The PPP chairman said his party believed that great injustice had been done to Sindh in the recent controversial census as at least nine million people in the province had been missing in the census data. Similarly, he said, the people of tribal areas and south Punjab also had reservations over the census figures. The PPP chairman cut a cake on the occasion. Those who vattended the ceremony included former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Aitzaz Ahsan, Farhatullah Babar, Nayyar Bokhari, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed and Nargis Faiz Malik.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari is scheduled to address a public meeting at Parade Ground in Islamabad on Dec 5. The PPP also plans a public meeting in Multan on Dec 15.

Adjournment motion

Meanwhile, six PPP members have submitted an adjournment motion to the National Assembly secretariat seeking a debate on the Faizabad sit-in and its “serious implications on rule of law and internal security of Pakistan”.

“It is extremely concerning that the deal has been brokered by military authorities with explicit direction from the government with Punjab Chief Minister (Shahbaz Sharif) acting as a mediator. This seriously questions the legitimacy and the authority of the government which dragged the military into an issue that is the exclusive concern of the Ministry of Interior,” reads the motion.

It says that “the agreement provides impunity to those who challenged the state, broke the law, destroyed property, leading to deaths and injuries of several citizens, including a policeman. It has set a terrifying precedent and has immensely weakened the state”.

Those who have submitted the motion are Syed Naveed Qamar, Nafisa Shah, Aijaz Jakhrani, Imran Leghari, Shagufta Jummani and Surraya Jatoi.

The government has already convened the NA session on Dec 7.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2017